Steve Parish Reflects on Pleasing Transfer Window

10 August 2018

Chairman Steve Parish is content with the club’s business during this transfer window, with the additions of Vicente Guaita, Cheikhou Kouyate and Max Meyer, as well as the loan signing of Jordan Ayew from Swansea which was completed last night.

Speaking on Deadline Day, Parish said: “It’s been good I think, from where we’re sitting at the moment. You never really know until you look back. Thinking about the January 2017 one, that looks like a very, very good window now – especially for a January window. I think we’ll get the best out of all of those players this year, but we’ve already seen some very good things from Patrick, Jeffrey, Mamadou and Luka. This one will hopefully be as good, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Time will tell.”

Two of the players added this summer were out of contract, in Vicente Guaita and Max Meyer. Parish said: “We always try to be smart, and opportune. But obviously it gets more difficult the longer you’re here. We’ve spent a lot of money – well over £200 million in the last couple of years. We’ve got a better squad because of that, but you can’t keep spending, you’ve got to be smart. In that £200 million, there have been some smart buys.

“There’s no prizes for just spending more than everybody – at the end of the season nobody remembers that, unless you do remarkably badly having spent too much or remarkably well having spent too little. We think we’ve improved the value of our player balance sheet for not a huge amount of money, so we’re very pleased. But there are risks in all transfers, and everyone else has strengthened too so it’s going to be very difficult as it always is. We’re not complacent, but we’re pleased with the work we’ve done.”

Parish was quick to praise the contributions of the manager, sporting director and Iain Moody in conducting the club’s summer business. He said: “Working with Roy, Dougie and Iain has been an absolute joy to be honest. We really knew exactly what we needed to do to strengthen the squad. We’ve now got competition for places and quality all over the squad, and we’ve got a great manager. So hopefully that equals a great season.

“But we all know the margins are fine and we’re going to have to be on our mettle every week, starting on Saturday which is a fantastic occasion to look forward to.”

Hear more from the Chairman in the club’s new podcast later today, including more praise for Roy Hodgson, and also fitting tributes for players he holds in the highest regard who have recently left the club in Damien Delaney and Yohan Cabaye. Subscribe to the podcast now on all the major audio platforms (search “Official Palace Pod”) or click here.